British-style exotic café tucked away in an office-residential building—come unwind at your own unhurried pace!

Text & Photos byOrange Dog Loves Candy

Keystrokes document the places we've been, while the look of each café preserves memories of certain moments.

Cafés have gradually become one of Taiwan’s travel highlights. At least I know that for Hong Kongers, the elegant cultural vibe and laid-back pace of life can be fully experienced in these coffee shops. Some are uniquely charming, others more generic—but either way, they've all become part of the city’s enchanting scenery.

Although the most popular spots in Tainan are cafés or homestays in old houses, the place I found myself thinking about the most was actually this [Cape+ Cafe], hidden in a high-end office-residential complex. Unless you know the place well or stumble upon it online, who would’ve imagined such a British-style exotic café lying beneath the towering World Di Xin Building?


The first time I came to CAPE was during its soft opening. That day, someone wanted to find a spot to do a tarot reading XD. When you see the combination of stained glass and frosted glass at the entrance, giving off an exotic vibe, how could you not fall in love with the place?


It’s a pity it’s located inside a building—otherwise, sunset light would make those windows even more enchanting. In Tainan, I can only think of the Window Frame Café as another spot with window-themed charm. There used to be another great one in Taipei called Idle Corner Café, but sadly it closed down some time ago. The navy blue door frame is lovely, its subtle allure making you wonder what lies inside.


The music inside is always unique and pleasing. On a weekday afternoon at two, the small café was empty except for the busy baristas and our slightly loud laughter—such rare leisure time, even on a weekend.


Though the space isn’t large, every little detail is a delightful surprise. The floor tiles were inspired by the owner’s trip to Spain—the unique tile patterns make you feel like you’re walking on foreign soil, and David Bisbal’s passionate tunes seem to echo in your ears XDD


The wooden tables and chairs are tasteful, with elegant lines, especially the design of the chair backs. If there’s a queue, they might limit stays to 1.5 hours on weekends, but on a quieter day like this, it’s all quite relaxed.


They offer quite a few meal options. If you order a set meal, you get a drink worth 100 NT to choose from—but according to the menu, the 100 NT drinks are only black coffee and milk tea. Other drinks come at an additional cost. Meal prices are generally around 200 NT.


It’s not expensive, which is another reason I really like this place. Though that day, since I arrived late, I just snapped a quick photo of my food.


[German Red Sauce Sausage Q'Bake Pasta / 230 NT (includes 100 NT drink + soup)]
A generous plate of Q'bake pasta with plenty of cheese, baked to a tempting color. It uses spiral macaroni, and there’s a good amount of sausage too. It’s a rich flavor with a sweet and sour twist.


I thought it was pretty tasty, though I didn’t get a photo of the soup. But based on past impressions, it’s not bad. The portion size of the Q'bake pasta is quite substantial for a café.


[Banana Chocolate Muffin / 140 NT à la carte / 210 NT set meal (includes drink)]
About four pieces of muffin, already drizzled with chocolate sauce, plus a small jar on the side. The surface of the muffin is crispy.


The inside is soft and chewy, with a hint of sweetness as you bite into it. You can eat it with banana—it’s fairly decent overall.


[Rock Salt Caramel Latte / 120 NT]
Their latte has a stronger milk flavor and milder coffee bitterness, but the foam is very smooth. It’s gently silky with a touch of salty flavor, sipped bit by bit, and it performs well in terms of layered taste.


[CAPE Special Selection Milk Tea / 100 NT / included in set meal]
For a basic milk tea, CAPE does a pretty good job, and it’s not overly sweet.


(Oh yeah!! Pets aren’t allowed here—I forgot again T_T)
This review is a bit casual, both in text and thoughts—after all, it was a quick in-and-out visit. But I wanted to write something since it had been a while. As mentioned earlier, I was impressed by it during the soft opening, came back once more, and after a few months, it still maintains a solid standard. While old-house cafés were all the rage, it chose not to follow the trend and instead showcased its own unique style. It’s very quiet and uses exotic elements to piece together a travel-like atmosphere. Though perhaps the coffee selection could include more single-origin varieties for a richer global flavor. (Nearby, White Donkey, Ginza Japanese Restaurant, and Tsukiji Sushi are also great spots.)

Recommended for anyone interested in Tainan cafés—do check it out!

【Cape+Cafe 开普咖啡 龙山街│东区】

Address:No. 3, Lane 66, Chongren St., East District, Tainan City
Phone:06-2900886
Business Hours:08:30Am-06:30Pm
Consumption Reminder:Minimum consumption per person is one drink
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